Haiti Rewired planning

Hey, I thought I'd just throw this post out to start a conversation about what we should be doing on *this forum*. Want to critique the design? Think we should open a chat room? Do we need to add a space for files, photos, etc? Let's talk about it here.

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There are scores of different social networks, each with hundreds of groups of people gathered together to figure out how to do a better job of helping Haiti Relief. Some of these groups have thousands of participants. The duplication of effort is mind boggling. This fragmentation needs an umbrella effort that does not seek to add to the duplication but rather inter-communicate what's going on with constructive solutions, so that people who prefer what different networks, wikis, blogs, etc. have to offer, can participate without needing to join hundreds of groups on each of several networks.

Would it be possible to implement some sort of LIBRARY TAB or sidebar? It could be filled with texts/media we're sourcing from for new projects, as well as new resources the community generates (see Construction Booklet project)?

Hi, I'm glad to be here. It's troubling though that during sign-up, of the professional areas thought "relevant to Haiti" none include journalism. Why is that? Why is public relations but not a robust news media thought relevant to Haiti's reconstruction? I think that's a worthy discussion to have. Thanks, C.

Good question. We can and should add journalism to the mix. FYI we are actively pursuing a number of journalism projects for HR. 1) we are recruiting local bloggers to report on the reconstruction from inside Haiti including English translation for posts published in Creole and French; 2) we are building a robust hot-spot in P-a-P to give our local bloggers computing resources and reliable internet access for web research and bandwidth intensive task such as uploading video and photos; 3) we are in talks with a US-based J-school to help us scrutinize aid spending through ongoing analysis of the US Procurements database; 4) we are in talks with other journalism groups to pursue investigative projects related to the reconstruction; 5) we are approaching foundations and possible corporate sponsors with a plan to fund and support local journalism; 6) we are discussing ways to translate HR posts to Creole as audio files in order to distribute our reports to local radio stations.

Project members have agreed to provide equipment and technology, training, and tents for journalists who are still homeless after the Jan. 12 earthquake.

Haiti’s radio sector, the primary source of news for most Haitians, is being assisted by groups working with the Inter News media development group.http://www.internews.org/InfoSavesLives/haiti.shtm
However, radio continues to struggle to deliver the news. Of the 12 radio stations in the city of Leogane (at the epicenter of the quake), only five are back on the air more than two months later. They are broadcasting only music, and none are broadcasting news, the Committee to Protect Journalists reports this week.
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I have gotten feedback from my colleague at USAID. We are in the process of developing a proposal for funding. Let me know if there is any synergy here. Again, we are a closed, private high level network of Catholics and Christians coming together to help address the "agenda" issue many over competitive orgs on the grassroots level are facing. We lift the Name of Jesus above all names. I realize this may not be for everyone, however, many female journalists, especially, are very interested in helping address the violence against children and women and hence the faith component isn't a negative, at all.

This of Christian TV vs secular TV.....and print, of course, please reply to this or to my email so that I know where you want to take this, gmail: Kingofkingsnetwork@gmail.com. Marcia Lynn

Marcia, I've been trying to link into the church community and I'm especially keen if you have a church-media group going. The church is absolutely crucial is you want to reach Haitians, particularly women. Glad you're doing this. I'll email you shortly.

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